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beskarandblasters · 1 year

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Waiting Room

No Outbreak!Joel x F!Reader

Inspired by Waiting Room by Phoebe Bridgers

Main Masterlist | Joel Miller Masterlist

Summary: After spending two years at a local community college you’re getting ready to transfer to a four year school away from home and have the “true college experience”. That is until Joel Miller, a 30 year old single dad, moves across the street and you find yourself fixated on him.

Word count: 5.3k

Warnings: reader is able-bodied, canon divergent, age gap relationship (10 years), fingering, vaginal sex, reader is on birth control, no mentions of physical description of reader besides the fact that she has hair and is shorter than Joel (doesn’t specify by how much), angst

“If you were a teacher, I would fail your class

Take it over and over 'til you noticed me

If you were a waiting room, I would never see a doctor

I would sit there with my first aid kit and bleed”

“What a beautiful ceremony,” your mom says as your dad pulls onto the freeway.

“It was alright, I guess. It’s just community college, mom,” you sigh.

“Community college is still something to be celebrated,” your dad chimes in, looking at you in the rearview mirror.

You don’t respond. You lean against the window and let out a small sigh. The end of community college meant one thing; leaving home and going to school. You’re going to the University of Houston which is roughly three hours away from home. Albeit, not too far away but you’re excited to have the true college experience. You’re hoping to make new friends and hopefully meet someone. You had a boyfriend in high school but that was it. Dating is hard when you’re a commuter student who lives at home. But that’s all about to change.

You think about your new life come the end of the summer the whole drive home, not really paying attention to what your parents were saying. But you’re snapped out of your thoughts when your dad turns onto your street and your mom says, “Look, honey. The neighbor across the street is moving in today.”

You look over and see a man standing by a truck in his driveway, holding a baby on his hip. Your dad slows the car down and stops at the end of his driveway. Your mom rolls down the window and says, “Hi! We live across the street. It’s nice to meet you.”

Your mom tells him your names and he smiles at you. You make eye contact but look away quickly, feeling shy.

“I’m Joel Miller. And this is my daughter, Sarah,” he says.

“Let me park the car and we’ll come over and say hi properly,” your dad says.

You groan slightly. You’re not really in the mood to socialize right now. But before you can protest your mom opens the car door and motions for you to get out. The three of you walk over to Joel’s driveway and shake hands.

“I see someone graduated today,” Joel says, commenting on your graduation gown.

“Oh it’s nothing special,” you say, looking down at your feet, “It’s just community college.”

“She’ll be going to the University of Houston in the fall,” your mom says.

“Going away to school, huh? That’s when the real fun begins,” Joel says.

You look up from your feet and look at him. He shoots you a wink and you can feel your cheeks heating up.

“If you need anything at all let us know,” your mom says.

“Thank you, ma’am. I guess I should get this one down for a nap. I’ll see you guys later,” he says smiling at you.

Before he turns to go inside you get a good look at him in the sun, lighting up his features. You look at his form and his arm wrapped around Sarah. He looks strong and muscular, his biceps straining against the sleeves of his shirt. Before you can ogle him anymore he’s back inside his house and your parents start walking home. You turn and shake your head a little before following them.

You don’t see Joel again for another week. During that time you were a little disappointed but you couldn’t put your finger on why. It’s around four o’clock and you’re just about to finish your routine walk and head home when you see Joel on the opposite side of the street heading towards you.

“Hey there!” he says, walking over to you. His gray shirt clings to him with patches of sweat. He must be on a run.

“Hey, Joel… On a run?”

“Yeah, just squeezing one in before I pick up Sarah from daycare. Do you normally walk in the neighborhood around this time?”

Has he been watching you?

“Yeah… I guess I do.”

“We could walk together if you want. I get home from work early sometimes and have time to kill before I go get Sarah.”

Why is he being so nice to you? You’re not used to men taking an interest in you, much less men like Joel.

“Sure. Same time tomorrow?” you ask before turning to your driveway.

“Sure thing. See you tomorrow!” he calls before heading inside.

The next day rolls around and you walk to the end of your driveway, waiting for Joel. You feel butterflies in your stomach and your legs feel like jelly.

Stop. He just moved here. He’s probably lonely, you think to yourself.

You see his front door open. Once Joel spots you waiting his face breaks into a smile. You give him a small wave and meet him in the street.

“Ready?” he asks.

You nod and start walking. It’s a bit awkward at first. You don’t really know what to say. You think about the neighborhood; people watching you two from their front windows and wondering what business you have being together.

“You okay, sweets?”

You feel your heart drop to your stomach. The nickname. Where did that come from?

“I guess I’m just nervous is all.”

“Why’s that, sweets?”

“I’m not sure… I guess I’m just worried about what the neighborhood will think… seeing us together.”

“We’re just on a walk. But if you want we could always head back to my place. Are your folks home?”

Your heart leaps at the thought of being in his house alone with him. But not in a bad way. You want that so badly. You want nothing more than to spend alone time with him while he calls you cute pet names.

“No they won’t be home until after six… After this street we could go to your house if you want…”

“Sounds good to me. I’ll follow your lead.”

You both go silent again. You pick up the pace a little, eager to make it back to his house already. When you reach his driveway he leads you inside and says, “Make yourself at home. You want a glass of lemonade, sweets? It was a scorcher out there today.”

“Uh, sure,” you say, sitting down on his couch gingerly.

After a moment, he returns to the living room and sets two glasses down on the coffee table. You sit there in silence, awkwardly sipping your lemonade, waiting for him to say something.

“So why do I make you nervous, sweets?”

“I guess… I’m just confused as to why someone like you would be interested in someone like me.”

He falls silent. Maybe you were wrong. Maybe he wasn’t actually into you. Maybe he was just being friendly. He sets his glass down on the coffee table and leans closer to you.

“Someone like me?” he asks.

“You know… someone older, someone… cooler. Someone attractive.”

The words were just slipping out.

“So you find me attractive?” he presses further. You’re facing each other now, trying so hard to read his facial expression and body language.

“I… Yes. Yes, I do,” you admit.

“Wow. Didn’t think a pretty girl like you would be into an old man like me.”

You stare at him with wide eyes, in disbelief that he just said that; that he just called you pretty. Your face feels hot and your head feels fuzzy. Without thinking, you lean forward and press your lips against, half expecting him to pull away. But he doesn’t. In fact, he melts into your touch, pulling you closer. His hands find your hair. You’re feeling brave now. Not only did you kiss Joel Miller first but he pulled you closer. You brush your tongue against his lips and he hums into the kiss, parting his lips slightly to let you gain access. He tastes sweet from the lemonade he was just drinking. He pushes against you lightly, coaxing you to lay down the couch. He decides he wants his tongue in your mouth now, pressing it against yours. You part your mouth as he explores it with his tongue. You whimper a little bit underneath him, making him moan into your mouth. You want more. You can’t get enough of him. You reach your hand down to the waistband of his pants but he pulls away.

“Let’s save that for next time, sweets.

He wants a next time, you think to yourself.

You nod and he kisses your forehead. You stay there like that for a moment, underneath him and staring into each other's eyes.

“I guess I should get home,” you say.

He nods and pulls himself off of you. You stand up and try to fix the back of your hair, a little matted from your couch make out session. You get nervous for a second, worried about what the neighbors will think seeing you leave Joel’s all frazzled.

“Same time tomorrow?” he asks, leading you to the door.

“Actually… Can we walk somewhere else? Maybe the park… and maybe a little bit later? Maybe around 6:30?”

You wince, worried that he’s going to be offended that you don't want to be seen with him. But he’s not.

“Sure thing, sweets. I’ll see if my brother, Tommy, can watch Sarah after work. Wanna meet me there?”

“Sure… See you tomorrow, Joel,” you say, reaching for the door handle.

But before you can leave he grabs you by the waist and kisses you again, catching you off guard.

He pulls away and says, “One for the road.”

“I literally live across the street,” you laugh.

“Doesn’t matter,” he says, pressing a kiss on your forehead, “See you tomorrow, sweets.”

He lets go of you and you leave. You feel his eyes on you as you walk home. You reach your front door and you turn around to get one last look at his house. To your surprise he’s still there. You give each other a small wave before you go inside. You close the door behind you and lean against it, smiling like an idiot. You go to your room and think about what you’re going to wear tomorrow.

After a while you hear your mom come home.

“How was your day, honey?” she calls to you.

“Really great actually…”

“That’s good to hear,” she says.

You smile to yourself, thinking about how she doesn’t know the reason why. It feels good to have a little secret like this. You go to bed that night finding yourself unable to sleep. You’re too busy thinking about seeing Joel tomorrow.

You wake up for the day and hope it goes by fast. Between making a shopping list for school, picking out your outfit and eating lunch the day doesn’t drag on too long. You get ready and put on a blue and white floral dress with white converse. Not really ideal for going on a walk but you’re hoping it’ll be more than that.

You go to grab your keys to leave but you decide to leave a note for your parents. You make up some lie about getting ice cream and seeing a movie with some friends from high school that were home for the summer. You leave the note on the kitchen counter and leave, getting in your car to drive to the park. The whole drive to the park you’re nervous. You never even confirmed if the plan was still on; if Sarah could go to Tommy’s. You decide that you’ll wait until six before going home. You pull into the parking lot and wait, twiddling your thumbs and switching between radio stations. After a while you see Joel’s black truck pull in and feel relieved. The park is a little dead today which makes you feel relieved even more. You get out of your car to meet him and he immediately greets you with a kiss.

He pulls away and says, “How was your day, sweets?”

“Just got a little better,” you reply, smiling at him.

“Only a little? After tonight you’ll think differently,” he teases.

You walk around the park together as it gets darker and darker. He tells you he’s a contractor. He tells you about his daughter and how her mom left them soon after she was born. You tell him about school but you choose to not talk about leaving in the fall… He listens to you and makes you feel seen; makes you feel wanted. You haven’t known him that long at all but you can feel yourself falling for him.

Eventually you two are the only ones left at the park as the sun starts to set. You’re sitting on a bench, thighs pressed together. The anticipation in the air is heavy as both of you know what you want. You want him to act on it first. You turn to look up at him and as if he reads your mind he caresses your face and kisses you. You press against him more, turning the kiss into full blown making out.

He pulls back and whispers against your ear, “Wanna go back to the truck, sweets?”

You nod and rise from the bench. He keeps a hand on the small of your back on the walk back to the truck. He opens the door to the backseat and you slide in as he follows and closes the door behind him. He wastes no time kissing you again, but this time he pulls you into his lap. You grind your hips against him as his hands roam your thighs. His calloused hands from manual labor contrast with your soft skin. It reminds you how much of a man he is. You feel his fingers tugging at the seam of your underwear so you spread your legs a bit wider. His fingers tease your entrance making you moan against him. He brings his fingers to his lips to moisten them but before he can slide one in you stop him.

“Joel… I have to tell you something.”

“What is it, sweets?”

“I’ve… never had an orgasm before.”

“Oh baby I’m gonna make you feel so good.”

He slides a finger into your already wet cunt. You rest your head on the back of the seat beside his head and close your eyes in pleasure. He was right; you already feel good. And just off of one finger. He curls in against your walls as you whimper beside his ear. He inserts another finger and you feel yourself expand to accommodate how wide they are. He pumps them in and out of you faster and faster. You feel yourself get close to the edge. And that’s when he brings his thumb to your clit rubbing small, fast circles around the sensitive bundle of nerves.

“Cum on my fingers, sweets. Let me feel it.”

You whimper and nod against him, so close but not quite there yet. He curls fingers up against your g-spot in a “come here” motion and that’s when you cum hard. Your release drips down to his wrist, leaving it completely soaked. You moan his name over and over again as you ride out your high, grinding against his hand in the process as he whispers words of praise against your ear.

“You did so good, baby.”

You move your head to look him in the eye after you finish coming, his fingers still inside you.

“Thank you, Joel.”

“I’m glad I could help, baby.”

You kiss him as he pulls his fingers out, whining at the sudden absence inside you. He pulls away and brings his fingers to his mouth to taste you, closing his eyes as he does.

“You taste so good, baby. So sweet.”

You reach your hand between your legs and rub where his cock was straining against the fabric of his pants. He pulls his cock out and gathers more of your release, spreading it on his cock in preparation to fuck you.

“You ready for me, sweets?”

You nod and lower yourself onto him, feeling his cock spread you apart. You stay still for a moment, letting yourself get adjusted to his size and looking into each other's eyes. After getting comfortable you grind yourself against him, hitting you in the most perfect angles. He hands grip your waist as he looks up at you while you fuck yourself on his cock. You feel yourself getting close again; your walls tensing up around him.

“That’s it, baby. Cum again for me,” he says, looking you in the eye.

You cunt pulses and flutters around him as you cum again, ripping through your core. Your hands find his hair as you finish coming, also sending him to the edge. His hands move to your hips to pull you off of him, but you bring a hand to his chest and say, “It’s okay. I’m on the pill.” He nods and you grind against him once more. He shoots his load into you, coating your insides with his warm release.

You both stay there pressed against each other and panting. The inside of the truck is steamy, condensation hanging on the windows. You look at each other with sweaty faces and pupils blown wide. You kiss again, not needing to say any words about what just happened; you both feel the same way.

“I wanna be the power ballad that lifts you up and holds you down

I wanna be the broken love song that feeds your misery

And I can wish all that I want, but it won't bring us together

Plus I know whatever happens to me, I know it's for the better”

And so the rest of the summer you and Joel mess around, finding places to fuck where no one would suspect a thing. Your parents are none the wiser at first but eventually you start to run out of excuses. Joel’s brother, Tommy, on the other hand sensed that something was there from the beginning but chose to look the other way. He’s happy to see that Joel is enjoying himself again after Sarah’s mom left but he worries that you’re too young and naive for Joel. And throughout the whole summer Joel never puts a label on what you are despite how badly you want to be official. But it’s not smart. Not when you’re sneaking around behind your parents back and not when you’re about to go away to school. But the truth is you love him so much and you’ve never told him.

It’s the night before you’re about to leave and you’re laying in the bed of Joel’s truck. He decided to make this time special, bringing you somewhere with less light pollution so you can stargaze and lining the truck bed with pillows and blankets.

He’s between your thighs, cock buried deep in your cunt as he fucks you relentlessly. You try to take a mental image of him above him above you with the starry night sky behind him. You never want this to end. With one last slam of his hips you’re coming around him, gripping his cock like a vice. He paints your walls with thick ropes of cum, burying his face in the crook of your neck. He pulls out if you and collapses next to you, pulling you against him.

“I’m gonna miss you, Joel,” you say into the crook of his neck.

“I’m gonna miss you too, sweets,” he says, running a hand through your hair.

You look up at the stars as you lay against him, tears springing in your eyes as you think about leaving him. You both lay there talking about anything but tomorrow. But soon enough it gets late and you have to get home. You have a three hour drive ahead of you tomorrow. You slip on your clothes and get out of the truck bed, dragging your feet to the front. The drive home is silent, both of you not knowing what to say. But as he pulls up to your house he stops you before you can get out. He leans over and kisses you passionately before whispering against your ear, “One for the road”.

You feel tears sting your eyes again as you get out of the truck.

“Goodbye, Joel,” you say, closing the door behind you. Tears are rolling down your face now as you walk to the front door, stopping to turn around and watch him pull into his driveway.

The drive to school the next day was dreadful. Realistically you should be excited about this; it’s all you ever wanted. But you’re missing Joel. You hadn’t exactly talked about what would happen with you two once you left.

The move in goes alright. Your parents stick around a bit too long, just wanting to make sure you’re going to be alright. Luckily, you have a single on the off chance Joel comes to see you. But that seems few and far between. You’re three hours away and he has Sarah at home. When is he ever gonna have the time to come see you?

Two weeks pass and you don’t hear from Joel. He knows how to reach you. He has your phone number and you have his. But you’re too nervous to call him first.

“I wanna make you drive all night

Just because I said, "Maybe you should come over"

Wanna make you fall in love as hard as my poor parent's teenage daughter

She'll be the best you ever had if you let her”

That is until one Friday night when you come back from a frat party drunk out of your mind. Your feelings get the best of you and you call Joel. His gruff voice answers with, “Sweets?”

“Joellll I miss youuuu,” you say, slurring your words.

“I miss you too, sweets. Are you alright?”

“I just came back from a party,” you whisper.

He chuckles, “I’m glad you’re having fun, sweets.”

“You should come over,” you whine.

“You serious?”

“Mhmmm.”

He sighs, feeling conflicted before answering, “Fine. I’ll leave in an hour. I just have to bring Sarah to Tommy’s.”

“Thank you, Joel. I can’t wait to see you.”

“Me neither, sweets. See you soon,” he says before hanging up.

You fall into bed, sleeping the best you’ve slept in a while knowing that Joel will be there in the morning.

You awake to your phone ringing. You roll over and look at the contact and see that it’s Joel. You pick up and he says, “Alright sweets I’m here. What building?”

“Building 2A. I’ll meet you outside,” say before hanging up.

You rush to get changed and smooth down your hair. You leave your room to go meet him, anxious to see him again even though it’s only been two weeks. You leave the building and step out onto the quad and see him there standing in the middle of the grass, hands in his pockets. His face brightens as he sees you. You run over to him and wrap your arm around it. It all feels like a movie.

“You have no idea how much I missed you,” you say into his chest.

You feel his arms embrace you as he says, “Missed you too, sweets. You wanna let me inside your dorm? I feel like I’m getting weird looks.”

You pull away and look around to see handfuls of students sitting on picnic blankets in the grass. Some of them were looking at you two, some weren’t. Regardless they were all freshmen and sophomores judging by the looks of them. And they weren’t used to seeing a thirty year old man standing in the middle of the quad. You take his hand and lead him back to your building, signing him in before you take him to your room.

“Wow, no roommate, huh?” he says.

“Nope,” you say, giving him a smirk.

That was all he needed. His lips come crashing against yours and his large hands envelope your face. He pushes you back towards your bed across the room and you oblige, falling down on it so he can hover over you. He presses sloppy, wet kisses down your jaw and neck, nipping at the soft skin ever so slightly. He pulls off your sweatpants and trails his hand from your knee and up your thigh. You spread your legs open for him, wanting him inside you already. He stands for a moment to pull off his pants and shirt as you take in his naked body before removing your own shirt. He takes one look at you and says, “Already so wet for me, sweets,” as he rubs his fingers along your entrance. He collects some of your wetness on his hands and slathers his already hard cock before thrusting in slowly. Even though it’s only been two weeks since you last had him you had to get adjusted to his size for a moment, holding your breath as your walls expanded around him. You exhale and he thrusts in you harder, picking up your thighs with his hands and learning down, folding you in half. This angle is intense for you and you never last long with it. He slams his hips into you, filling the room with the lewd sound of skin slapping against skin and your own moans. You’re sure anyone on either side of you can hear right now but you’re too blissed out to care. He thrusts into you one last time and you come undone around him, your cunt fluttering on his cock. The sensation of your release makes him cum too and you’re filled with the familiar feeling of his cum shooting into you. He pulls out and lays down next to you on your shitty dorm room mattress, holding you as you close your eyes and melt into him.

“How was the drive?” you ask after a moment.

“Uh, not terrible,” he says.

“… Maybe we could do this more often?” you say, nervous to hear his response.

“Maybe, sweets,” he says, pressing a kiss to your temple, “But I can’t stay that long, baby. Tommy can’t watch Sarah that much longer.”

“Okay… How much longer do you have?”

“Probably another hour until I have to leave.”

You nod and lay back down against him, sadness washing over you again. You lay there together catching up until he has to go. You tell him how school is going and he tells you how home is. He checked on your parents after you left, making sure they weren’t too upset in your absence and you thank him for that. But the talking comes to an end as he gets to get dressed. Before he leaves you kiss him and say, “I love you, Joel,” not really expecting an answer back. Which you don’t get. He kisses you again and says “Bye, sweets.” You spend the rest of the day in bed, feeling emptier than ever.

And now you’ve sort of fallen into a routine with Joel where you call him to come over. And he does when he can. Normally you just have sex and lay in bed together. Occasionally you’ll go out for breakfast before he has to go back but that’s as far as dates go for you. He can never stay for more than a few hours with Sarah at home. You start to feel hopeless with the whole situation. You wanted more than this; you wanted a real relationship and he just can’t give it to you. He hasn’t said I love you back at this point either and you’re growing frustrated. You’re in college with a sea of available men and you’re pining for the thirty year old dad who’s three hours away. You decide that if the opportunity comes along for someone else, you’re not going to pass it up.

It’s November now, right before Thanksgiving break. You called Joel in your drunken stupor the night prior but he didn’t pick up. At this point you can’t take it anymore; you’re done with being strung along. You always thought to yourself if he’s driving three hours a couple times a week to come see me, he must love me right? But you never get any confirmation.

You’re pacing back and forth in the lobby of your building, your mind is going in a thousand different directions. You’ve barely been able to focus on school during all of this and the friends you’ve made so far have noticed a change in you. You’re spiraling, wondering why you even put yourself in this situation to begin with.

But you’re snapped from your thoughts when the cute guy from your philosophy class taps you on the shoulder. You turn to look at him. He seems nervous.

“Oh, hi,” you say, feeling shy. The only man you’ve really interacted with at this point has been Joel and you’re not used to talking to someone new.

“Hey, um I’m Sean. We’re in Philosophy 315 together.”

“Yes I remember you. How are you doing?”

“I'm good… I was just wondering… After the break did you want to go out sometime?”

Fuck it. Why not? You have someone here in front of you telling you directly that he wants to take you out.

“Sure,” you say, pulling out a piece of paper and writing your number on it, “Call me when break is over, okay?”

He takes the piece of paper from you and nods. But behind him you notice Joel who just witnessed everything. He doesn’t say anything, turning on his heel and leaving.

“Would you excuse me?” you say to Sean before running out of the building, not waiting for a response. You follow Joel all the way to his truck before he turns around and asks, “What the fuck was that?!”

“He asked me to go out. Big fucking deal.”

“And you said yes?!”

“Why not? I’m getting really sick and tired of this. You don’t get to continue fucking me after I tell you I love you when you don’t say it back. You don’t think I’m not going to try and move on?”

He sighs. He realizes he’s in the wrong. But instead of confirming his love for you he says, “Sweets, I don’t think this is working out for us anymore. You’re away at college like you’ve always wanted to be… and I think you deserve the full experience… with someone your own age.”

Tears spring to your eyes and he grabs your hands. Deep down you know he’s right. You know this is for the better.

“I know, Joel. I’ve been thinking about this too… it’s for the better.”

“It is, sweets,” he says, pulling you in for a hug and kissing your forehead.

“I’m sorry,” he continues, “It was wrong of me to string you along like this.

You nod against him, your tears staining his shirt. He caresses your face and gives you one last kiss.

“One for the road,” he murmurs against your ear.

He gets back in his truck and you walk back to the edge of the parking lot. You turn to watch him leave, tears rolling down your face. You watch him until he’s out of sight. You sigh and walk back to your building, feeling a weird mixture of sadness and relief. It was for the better.

“I never grew up with you

And you're not my waiting room”

End note: I hope you liked the lyric header with Phoebe's handwriting!!! Love my queen🖤 Let me know if this ripped out your heart like it did to mine 😍 xoxo

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eretzyisrael · 4 months

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Opinion

By MICHAEL KAYE Published: FEBRUARY 28, 2024 03:04 THE WRITER speaks at a marketing conference in New York City wearing a #EndJewHatred T-shirt.(photo credit: COURTESY MICHAEL KAYE)

It’s been almost five months since October 7, a day that completely changed the lives of more than 15 million Jews around the world. But the aftermath of the attack is still present, months later. In many ways, it feels as though this nightmare just happened, while at other moments, it’s hard to remember what life was like before that day of terror.

I am not fluent in Hebrew. I do not wear a kippah. I have almost 30 tattoos. I am not your stereotypical Jew, but I have become a proud Jewish activist. But October 7 changed me, as it did many others. Who I was before is someone I can never be again. I cannot be complicit or silent. I donate to the Anti-Defamation League; I speak at conferences wearing an #EndJewHatred T-shirt; I never leave home without Jewish-themed jewelry; and I use my social media platforms to discuss the rising antisemitism on college campuses across the United States and around the world.

As someone who was educated at a Jewish school and learned about the Holocaust, I am no stranger to antisemitism or the dangerous impact it can have. My earliest memories include being taught by my parents to be proud but quiet about my Judaism, having swastikas carved on my school playground, being immediately evacuated on September 11, and always leaving my Star of David at home when traveling.

During my childhood and teenage years, I heard from and met many Holocaust survivors, including Elie Wiesel. I listened to their stories about how the world remained silent.

Today, it feels like the beginning of a second Holocaust. That is why I cannot remain silent.

A scary time to be Jewish

For this Jewish New Yorker, it’s a scary time to be Jewish. The American Jewish Committee’s State of Antisemitism in America report found that 93% of American Jews surveyed think antisemitism is a problem in the United States and 86% believe antisemitism in the country has increased over the past five years.

In November, I attended the March for Israel in Washington. Around me were Jewish people from Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Richmond, San Diego, and Queens. A man from Brooklyn put tefillin (phylacteries) on me; it was the first time I had worn tefillin in almost 20 years. I even got to meet Julia Haart and Miriam Haart from Netflix’s My Unorthodox Life, who grew up in a religious community not too far from me. While there, I realized this gathering had the most Jews I’ve been around since I was in Israel in 2006. It was the safest I had felt in years. But there were also allies, including Congressman Ritchie Torres and CNN contributor Van Jones. That day reminded me of why I am proud to be Jewish and why I cannot be silent about my Judaism any longer.

Since October 7, I have lost hundreds of followers on social media. I have received anti-Israel and anti-Jewish messages, even threats. But I am not alone. The AJC found that six in 10 people have come across antisemitic content online, and 78% of American Jews feel less safe as Jews in the United States since that horrific day.

To many of us, the current climate feels different. We’re feeling angry, confused, and isolated. In my lifetime, I have watched the nation unite after domestic and foreign terrorist attacks, social justice actions, and wars. Rarely, outside of politics, have I seen us this divided: the Jewish community against everyone else. Overnight, people who had never spoken about any Middle Eastern wars became experts on the conflict. Disinformation spread like wildfire across social media, and much of it felt aimed at damaging or discrediting Jews and Zionists. Almost immediately after October 7, it was not only taboo to express sympathy for the Israelis who were captured or murdered; it was discouraged and forbidden, often met with attacks, both physical and verbal.

BUT THROUGH these painful months, there have also been glimmers of light.

During this period of mourning, I have watched people of all backgrounds come together – to educate, to grieve, to hope, and to pray. A Christian connection on social media thanked me for sharing educational resources. Jewish friends from elementary school and high school reached out. A Muslim friend held my hand as I cried, and another has been checking on me periodically for months. These are the moments I have chosen to cling to.

Our future is not where one side loses and another wins. It’s where we all unite.

The writer is an award-winning communications strategist, data storyteller, purpose-driven marketer, and educator based in New York City. He often speaks about antisemitism, LGBTQ+ rights, and social justice issues.

#Israel #antisemitism #israel hamas war

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rambleonwaywardson · 29 days

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Clegan Astronaut AU - Part 2

Part 1

AU Summary: Had some ideas about the boys as modern day NASA astronauts. Taking place in 2025, Bucky is about to head to the moon as mission commander of Artemis III while Buck is back-up commander and CAPCOM on the ground at NASA. Established relationship (obnoxiously in love).

Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who read and liked part 1! I have this whole story very loosely plotted but have no publishing schedule. I'll be out of town this week, so it may be longer before part 3 is up. Also, fun fact, this was originally going to take place in the 70s during Apollo, but I really wanted to write Clegan as out and proud. I think you can see why.

See end notes for term definitions.

September 8, 2025 Houston, TX

Growing up, Gale Cleven was always just Gale Cleven. Top of his class, quiet but kind, a little something wild but innately good. He doesn’t talk much about his childhood, about his parents. He grew up too fast, learned too early that life is unfair, that people are unkind – even the ones who are supposed to take care of you. He grew up with his head in the clouds, dreaming of elsewhere. He wanted to be someone, to do something. He wanted to fly away.

So when he needed money to go to college, he took a scholarship from Air Force ROTC. He would become a pilot. He would get a degree in aerospace engineering. He would learn about math and physics, and about the giant universe he dreamed of. He would do something important, something worthwhile, because he needed to be better than the man who raised him.

Weirdly enough, being an astronaut was never a serious consideration. The space program was about impossible to get into as it was, and getting smaller. The heyday of Apollo and the shuttle were over. NASA was under fire once again in the early 2000s following the Columbia disaster, and space travel just didn’t interest the public, or the politicians, as much as it once did. Gale was fascinated by it, always had been, but he was much more interested in the physics, the math, the engineering. Even as he wanted to be a pilot, he hardly entertained the idea of being an astronaut.

All of this, until he met John Egan.

Freshman year of college, a talk, lanky, dark-haired boy with the most beautiful smile Gale had ever seen barreled into their assigned dorm room and hit Gale’s life like a freight train. He called himself Bucky, and he started calling Gale Buck, no matter how many times Gale repeated his actual name. Bucky Egan was also in AFROTC with dreams of being a pilot. A mechanical engineering major, not because he wanted to be or because the Air Force wanted him to be – physics really was not suited to him to be honest – but because he knew NASA would want him to be. And Bucky Egan fully intended to be a NASA astronaut.

Gale could tell from day one that nothing would stop this boy; he was a force of nature, and if something stood in his way he simply jumped over it.

What Gale did not know from day one was that, 16 years later, this was the man he would marry. What he did not know was that this man would completely change his life.

It was John Egan that, one random night during their time in college, drunk on tequila shots, looked at Gale and said “still think it’s crazy you don't wanna be an astronaut. You’d be NASA’s poster boy.”

Gale Cleven was always just Gale Cleven, future pilot and engineer. Until he met John. Now, standing in a crowded bar in Houston, Texas, he’s Major Buck Cleven, astronaut. One of NASA’s poster boys.

The Hundred Proof Bar, just down the road from Johnson Space Center, is a long-time local favorite of astronauts and JSC employees. It’s decorated with military and space program memorabilia, with a tradition almost as old as the bar itself: once an astronaut goes to space and returns from their mission, they get their astronaut portrait hung on the wall behind the bar, joining a small and coveted community of great pilots, explorers, and scientists. Among the Houston NASA community, having your picture behind the bar almost means more than having it at NASA.

Over the bartop, Gale stares at his own portrait. Like most of the others, he’s in a bulky white EVA suit, one hand resting on top of a space helmet, an American flag in the background. The photograph was taken nearly three years ago, ahead of his inaugural six-month ISS mission, the culmination of over a decade of hard work in school, the Air Force, and astronaut training. You can read the expression on his face like a book in that picture: pure excitement, like it was everything he had ever dreamed of.

Bucky’s picture is right next to his. Even though their first missions didn’t coincide, Jackie, the owner of the place and head bartender, insisted that putting them beside each other was the only correct course of action. Bucky looks just as ecstatic as Gale. Soon, though, there will be a new portrait of him in its place, one specific to Artemis 3.

“Here you go, love.” Jackie sets a glass of soda with lemon in front of Gale and he thanks her before taking a sip. He stands there at the bar, one hand on his glass and the other shoved in his pocket, just staring at the photographs. A little legacy to the world that’s representative of something far greater. They’d really made it, in the end.

“I’m proud of you, you know,” a voice says beside him. Gale looks over at Marge and smiles as she wraps an arm around his back and squeezes.

“Thought you weren’t coming tonight,” Gale says as he hugs her back.

When she steps away, she shrugs. “Miss John’s birthday? He’d kill me.”

Gale laughs, shoving his hands back into his pockets. “Please, you can pretty much do no wrong in his eyes. He’d forgive you.” Bucky had come to love Marge like a sister over the years. Gale was worried at first that they wouldn’t click, back when Marge visited them in college for the first time, but he had rarely been so wrong. They get along like a house on fire, for better or for worse.

Marge shakes her head and chuckles. “No babe, that would be you. Pretty sure John would help you get away with murder if you asked.”

“Who says he hasn’t?”

Marge just shakes her head again. “Well, I just popped in to say hi, wish the birthday boy well.” She pokes Gale in the chest, looking pointedly at him. “I meant what I said. By all means, have fun tonight, but I don’t want to hear about any scandals, okay? I’m good at my job, but the press will have a field day if they get a whiff of the next moon walkers doing anything… unruly.”

“Marge,” Gale says, pushing her finger away gently. “They’re young astronauts. Unruly is their middle name.”

Marge cocks her head and stares him down. Gale tries not to squirm under the intense, disapproving gaze of a terrifying woman several inches shorter than him. “Please just-”

“HEEYYYY!” Cheers erupt around the Hundred Proof as the front door swings open. Marge sighs and looks at Gale with an expression that says ‘you’re not off the hook and you better do as I say,’ but she drops it. Bucky walks inside, followed by Curt, Rosie, and Alex. He smiles and laughs and shakes hands, thanks people for the birthday wishes, hugs friends he hasn’t seen in too long. The place is packed with astronauts, NASA employees, space program families, and even some Air Force friends that were able to make a quick trip in. Gale turns around and leans back against the bar, watching Bucky work his way through the crowd.

He’s changed into a white tee shirt and an old black leather jacket on top of dark jeans, a timeless look that’s followed him since he first met Gale in college. He’s pretty sure the jacket itself has been with him through many of those years. Once he spots Gale, his smile gets wider and he pushes his way towards the bar. First he leans in and hugs Marge tight. “Happy birthday,” she says, ruffling his hair before he lets go.

“Thanks for coming,” he tells her. “I promise I will not be on my worst behavior tonight.”

Marge rolls her eyes. “That may be all I can ask for.” She pats him on the arm lovingly. “Enjoy yourself, okay?” She looks at both of the men standing in front of her – two men that she still sees as college boys; men who she is endlessly proud of and who also endlessly test her patience. “Sorry I can’t stick around, but I have to fly over to Cape Kennedy in the morning for some press. I’ll see you boys in a few days.”

They both hug her again before she walks off, slipping through the crowd effortlessly even in her heels. Bucky turns and looks at Gale, glances him up and down before breaking into a grin again. “You wore something cute.”

Gale looks down at himself, picking at the cuffs of his shirt. He’d picked out a black on black outfit: some nicely tailored black jeans and a black dress shirt with the top two buttons undone, complete with polished black leather oxfords – a look he admittedly knew would please Bucky with the way it fit his body so perfectly, the way it accentuated his shoulders and his waist at the same time. “Did I?” He asks innocently. Bucky nods, biting at his lower lip. Truthfully, everything looks good on Gale anyways. Gale shrugs, smirking at him. “Well, I live to please.” Before Bucky can really get any ideas in his head, though, Gale leans in and puts a hand on Bucky’s hip as he kisses him on the cheek. “Happy birthday, John,” he whispers.

They’re pulled away from each other by the sound of someone tapping loudly on a whiskey glass. Curt is standing on a nearby table, bringing in the attention of everyone in the room. He glances at Gale and Bucky. “Sorry lovebirds, but it’s not your wedding night yet. Give it a rest so I can say some words about Bucky here.” Gale blushes and pinches the bridge of his nose as their friends laugh around them. Bucky takes a step to the side, but still grabs Gale’s hand in his. Curt nods and goes on.

“Most of us are here tonight to celebrate Bucky’s birthday. Quite frankly I’m shocked he has this many friends, but thank you for being here.” He laughs with the crowd as Bucky holds a hand dramatically to his heart. “No, really though, Bucky’s an amazing guy. I’m real lucky to know him, and I’m lucky to have him in that Artemis lander with me when we go to the moon in November.” Raucous applause and cheering fills the room at that and Curt puts his hands up as he yells over them that he ain’t finished yet. He looks at Bucky and raises a glass. “Happy birthday, brother. You’ve worked hard to get here, and you deserve every bit of it. May we make history this year!”

Applause rises again, louder now, and people stomp, holler, and shout as Curt motions for Bucky to take his place on the table. He climbs up and takes in the room. “Very touching, Curt, thank you,” he says. “I’m honored to be commander of this mission.”

“Of all the drunks in this joint!” someone calls out jokingly from the crowd.

Bucky laughs and puts a hand up defensively. “Listen, someone’s gotta make a nest for the rest of you dodos. Make sure it’s safe. Just think of me as an overpaid guinea pig. Or, actually, rather underpaid for the circumstances.” This gets some laughter as well, even as no one in the room would ever truly doubt Major John Egan’s capabilities as a pilot or as an astronaut. They all know it’s true, however, that astronauts are not compensated enough for the risks they face. The money really isn’t why they do it though. “I’m not gonna stand here and wax sentimental,” Bucky says. “So thank you all for being here tonight. Now let’s get this party started!”

–

The evening is a blur of drinks, music, friends, and more drinks. It starts innocently enough, with Bucky making the rounds and greeting everyone he can. He and Gale talk shop for a while with Albert Clark, flight director of Artemis 3, and a few of the flight controllers tasked with monitoring the crew and spacecraft for the duration of the mission. Harry Crosby, FIDO; Jack Kidd, FAO; and Joseph “Bubbles” Payne, GNC. Bucky then declares that they need shots, and he remembers a lot less after that.

At some point, Gale loses track of him while he chats with a few of the engineers at JSC, including a hell of a woman named Helen who flew on the ISS with him. They’ve remained good friends ever since, and she’s about the smartest person and one of the best engineers he knows. He’s happy to talk about EVAs and the astronaut vs. engineer experience working in the neutral buoyancy tank, rockets and lunar rovers, even office gossip and who has the cutest dog (Gale, hands down, no room for objection). But it’s been a long day, and Gale – despite finding himself smack in the middle of the public eye with interviews and networking and photo shoots to the point that he isn’t really sure where he ends and the extroverted facade he’d crafted begins – is starting to feel drained. He talks and he smiles and he nods, but he can feel autopilot starting to take over. He brushes his fingers over the glass in his hand, smearing the cold condensation as he takes a sip of soda water. He’s perfectly sober but the music is starting to make his head pound. He blinks and rubs a hand over the back of his neck.

“Hey Buck,” Helen says, trying to hide her laughter with a hand over her mouth. Gale turns to see what she’s staring over his shoulder at and lets a quiet fuck slip out of his mouth.

“Hold my drink please,” he says to Helen, shoving the glass into her waiting hand before pushing through the crowd to where Bucky is standing in front of the dart board, crouched down so the top of his head is below the bullseye with a hand over his eyes. “And what exactly is this about?” he cries as he pulls Bucky away from the wall.

“Hey!” Curt exclaims, echoed by Alex. They’re both visibly drunk, darts in their hands as they look at Gale with displeasure all over their faces.

“We gotta settle this, Buck,” Bucky insists, trying to tug away from the hand gripping his arm. Bucky may be bigger and stronger than him, but Gale is more sober by about a thousand miles.

“Settle what?” he asks, incredulous.

“Well we ended in a tie,” Alex explains, like it makes all the sense in the world. “So now we gotta settle it somehow.”

The four of them stand in a loose approximation of a circle, staring each other down. Bucky has given up resisting and is leaning lazily back against Gale’s chest, fiddling intently with Gale’s fingers. Gale stands with one hand on his hip and the other wrapped around Bucky’s middle, holding the other man still while he tries to make sense of this. “And… the best way to settle that… is to throw darts at your commander? At my fiancé?”

Curt perks up defensively but his words are slurred. “Oh fuck no! We’re throwin’ ‘em above our fiancé.”

“My fiancé,” Gale corrects, as if that’s the most important part of this altercation.

Curt tilts his head and looks at him, his eyes shifting back and forth like he’s trying to make some sort of calculation in his head. Then he nods and points to Gale. “Yeah, yeah. Your fiancé.” He points to himself. “Our commander. Thassit.”

Alex adds, “whoever gets the dart closest to the top of his head wins.”

Gale rubs his face with one hand, groaning quietly. “No,” he finally says.

“No?” Curt asks, pouting.

“No,” Gale asserts again. “Last thing we need is for John Egan to get kicked off Artemis cause he’s lost an eye. Now give me those.” He pushes Bucky gently to the side – which is met with a grumpy protest – and grabs the darts from Alex and Curt, who are surprisingly willing to hand them over.

“Buucckkk,” Bucky whines, tugging at Gale’s free hand as he gives the darts to Jackie to keep behind the counter for a while. “You’re no fuunnnn. Woulda been jus’ like when Tommy threw one at me tha’ time. Was fine.”

“Curt and Alex are a lot drunker, you dummy. You’ll thank me later.” Very unlikely. He probably won’t remember this later. Gale turns to address all three of the men. “Now go entertain yourselves in less destructive ways.”

–

An hour or two later – who can really say – as the crowd starts to thin out, heading home in hopes of getting some semblance of sleep before a full work day tomorrow, Gale finds Bucky standing at the bar, talking to some of their military friends. Jackie – saint that she is – had switched just about all of them to non-alcoholic beverages some time ago. When Gale tries to pull Bucky away, Bucky pouts and leans against the bar. “Come on, Buck, the night is still young.” It’s past midnight, actually. It’s officially Tuesday, and they have to go to work in the morning. Schedules are packed a couple months out from launch.

Gale shakes his head and wraps an arm securely around Bucky’s mid back, pulling him close. Bucky struggles at first but then pauses, turns his head to press his nose into Gale’s neck. “You smell good.” He sniffs again before Gale feels lips gently kissing his neck, making him freeze and try to keep from blushing too hard.

“Okay,” he grunts, pushing Bucky’s head away from his collarbone while he tries to wrestle the rest of him away from the bar. “It’s definitely time to go home. Come on.”

Saying some hurried goodbyes, Gale pushes his way through the thinning crowd with Bucky half hanging on his shoulder and half stumbling beside him. Turning to look around is not an easy feat with 6’2 of muscular astronaut weighing him down, constantly switching back and forth between shouting out to friends across the room and trying to kiss Gale anywhere he can reach. But Gale manages to find who he’s looking for. Pushing between a small group of tipsy women with a mumbled apology, he reaches a hand out to grab Rosie by the shoulder. “You seen Alex?” he asks, raising his voice over the music.

“He left a little while ago!” Rosie yells back despite their proximity. Gale doesn’t know if he should be relieved that the number of drunk guys he has to wrangle has decreased or concerned over whether or not Alex was capable of getting home alone. But then Rosie adds, “Macon drove him home, don’t worry.”

Gale nods and steps closer. “You drunk?”

Rosie tilts his head to think for a moment, looks around the room, wriggles his shoulders back and forth like he’s trying to test his balance. “Eehhh.” He holds up a hand and tilts it back and forth in a ‘sort of kind of maybe’ motion.

Gale sighs as he pulls away Bucky’s hand, which is grabbing at his chin, and pins it down at his side instead. “Alright, you’re coming with me,” he says to Rosie. Then he points across the room to Curt, who is dancing on a table with a man and a woman to cheers from the crowd around them. He wonders how many people Curt has kissed tonight alone. “Grab him and meet me outside. Y’all can crash at our place.”

Rosie nods and heads off to extract Curt from… whatever is happening over there. Gale looks at Bucky, who is staring at him with his pupils blown wide. Bucky smiles drunkenly and kisses Gale sloppily on the mouth. Gale chuckles, long suffering, and presses his lips to Bucky’s temple. “I don’t know why I put up with you.”

Bucky taps him on the nose. “Cause you love me.” He can’t argue with that.

–

It takes some wrangling, some arguing, a little bit of threatening, and a lot of protesting, but Gale and Rosie manage to drag Bucky and Curt out of the car and through the door of the pretty ranch-style home on Nassau Bay. The second they walk in, they’re assaulted by two giant huskies all too excited to welcome them home. Meatball – who is really Demarco’s dog but has found himself in a weird co-parenting situation between Benny and Gale as the two alternate space missions and other work trips – just about knocks Curt to the tile floor right at the entryway. Pepper – the one year old husky who Gale and John adopted from a rescue earlier this year – slips and slides her way across the floor in her excitement to press her nose lovingly against Bucky’s legs.

“Hiya Pep!” Bucky immediately drops to the floor by the doorway to give Pepper all the hugs and kisses she deserves, laughing as she, very much not small enough to be a lap dog, wriggles her way into his lap anyways. Curt, meanwhile, stumbles away to the living room. “Couch!” he exclaims, before dramatically collapsing onto the couch and burying his face into a throw pillow.

“Shoes off!” Gale calls. Curt groans but awkwardly tries to kick off his dress shoes to no avail. Rosie rolls his eyes and goes to help. Gale bends down to scratch Meatball under the chin. “Benny’ll be home soon, bud.” He’s been on the ISS for over 6 months now and is due for splashdown next Wednesday. Meatball licks Gale’s hand before running out the door into the yard.

When Gale looks down at Bucky, still on the floor even though Pepper has run outside after Meatball, he’s staring forlornly at his feet. He looks up at Gale. “Buck, can you help me tie my shoes?”

“Your shoes are tied,” Gale says matter of factly, hands on his hips.

Bucky looks back at his shoes thoughtfully, touching the laces with oddly gentle fingers. He tugs halfheartedly. “Buck?”

“Hmm?”

“I can’t get them off.”

Gale flexes his jaw, unimpressed, and nods. “Mkay.” He kneels down on the floor and carefully removes Bucky’s shoes, sets them neatly by the door. Then he hauls the man back to his feet. As he leads Bucky awkwardly to their master bedroom, he looks in on Curt, who is already passed out on the couch. Rosie had managed to get his shoes off and ensure he wasn't lying on his back. He then peeks into the first guest room where Rosie, mercifully still in his right mind, has already claimed a bed. “You good?” Rosie nods and gives him a thumbs up. Gale nods back. “See you in the morning.” They are in for a hell of a training day tomorrow. The only saving grace is that at least half of Johnson Space Center will probably be just as hung over.

Gale manages to get Bucky out of his jacket and settled on the edge of their bed before he goes about changing out of his own clothes, stripping down to his underwear before pulling on a pair of sweats. He is acutely aware of Bucky’s eyes tracking his every move until he goes into their en-suite to brush his teeth. Once he’s done in the bathroom, he returns to find Bucky staring out the big picture window at the full moon lighting up their backyard.

He turns his head to look at Gale with wonder in his eyes. “I’m going to the moon, Buck.”

Gale smiles fondly as he sits beside him to look out at the night sky. He wraps an arm around Bucky’s shoulders and presses a kiss to the side of his head. It really is everything Bucky has ever dreamed of, for as long as they’ve known each other.

“Yeah, John. You’re going to the moon.”

Part 3

Terms: EVA = extravehicular activity (space walks and moon walks)

FIDO = Flight Dynamics Officer; monitors the flight path and trajectory of the spacecraft

FAO = Flight Activities Officer; in charge of preparing the flight plan; manages changes in the flight plan and crew activities

GNC = Guidance, Control, and Navigation Officer; operates spacecraft navigation and control software during flight; responsible for spacecraft orientation

ISS = International Space Station

Neutral Buoyancy Tank = giant water tank at Johnson Space Center used to simulate working in zero gravity

#clegan astronaut au #they are so in love #clegan fic #clegan #masters of the air #mota #john egan #gale cleven #bucky egan #buck cleven #gale buck cleven #john bucky egan #buck x bucky #bucky x buck #buck squared

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katareyoudrilling · 1 year

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Construction Corner (Joel Miller AU) Epilogue: A Very Special Episode

Fandom: The Last of Us/Pedro Pascal

Pairing: TV Host Joel Miller x divorced Female Reader

Summary: Friends and family gather to watch the final episode of Construction Corner

Word count: 1.4k

Rating: Teen (18+ only. NO MINORS)

Content Warnings: Alternate Universe, cameos galore, inaccuracies about tv show production, filming, and construction, fluffity fluff fluff

A/N: Thank you so much for your support of this series! I have so enjoyed writing it! I know it’s sad for it to end, but the door is wide open for drabbles, so feel free to pop into my ask box when you’re craving Construction Corner. Big thank you to @yespolkadotkitty for letting me borrow Zach and Martha from You Found Me/Say You’ll Stay. I hope you like what I’ve done with them! Also, a big thank you to @wheresarizona for the beta and for her unwavering support of this series since it was just a random daydream I had one day ❤️

Comments and reblogs very much appreciated!

Previous |

Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist

Taglist – link in my bio and on my Masterlist

“Y’all really don’t have to stay to watch this,” Joel pleads, carrying dishes into the kitchen.

“What are you talking about? We wouldn’t miss the season finale!” Frank exclaims, following closely after him. “Besides, it’s Bill’s favorite show. He never misses an episode.”

Surprised, you all turn to look at Bill, who had followed Frank in from the patio. He shifts uncomfortably under your attention and scuffs the toe of his boot against the floor.

“I like that you teach them things,” he mumbles gruffly, looking down at his feet.

“See!” Frank exclaims, squeezing his husband’s shoulders. Having Bill and Frank as neighbors has been one of the best parts of moving in with Joel. They are delightful.

“Get over it, Dad. I’m home for the summer, and we’re watching.” Sarah hip-checks Joel as she sets the last of the dishes on the counter.

Joel sighs, leaning against the counter next to you.

“I’m afraid you’re outnumbered,” you lean in to give him a kiss on the cheek. Joel is a modest man, but you know he’s proud of his show and especially this episode. His innate Southern gentlemanliness just won’t let him bask in all the attention.

The five of you leave the remnants of your dinner in the kitchen and move into the family room. Joel sits down in the middle of the couch. You snuggle in on one side of him while Sarah does the same on the other and turns on the TV.

You had been nervous about how things would go when Sarah got home from school. Your relationship with Joel had developed while Sarah was away, and the two of them had been a unit for so long. Your presence was bound to complicate things.

You confided your concerns to Joel one night when you were talking about moving in together, and he sheepishly confessed that Sarah had given her blessing long before.

It was just like Joel to be thinking so far down the line, letting you take your time catching up.

It’s only been a few days since Sarah arrived home from her freshman year of college, but so far, things between the three of you are comfortable and easy. Sandwiching Joel between the two of you on the couch feels totally natural.

The Construction Corner theme music starts playing, and you all turn your attention to the screen. Instead of the usual homeowner intro package, Joel appears alone.

“Welcome to Construction Corner, I’m Joel Miller. Usually, I help a homeowner with a DIY project that’s gotten out of control, but today, we’re doin’ things a bit different.

Zach and Martha have dreamed of openin’ a soup kitchen and community gatherin’ place for the veterans of Houston. They don’t need my help, but I’m here to offer it anyway.”

Joel turns to walk inside a storefront, and the voiceover begins:

Zach, a veteran himself, knows how difficult transitioning back to civilian life can be.

“I was homeless and unemployed,” Zach says to the camera, standing with one arm around Martha’s shoulders. “It was bleak. I don’t know where I would be if I hadn’t met Martha and gotten help from the community here. That’s why I want to give back.”

“It shouldn’t be so difficult and isolating,” Martha continues. “Our hope is that this place will not only offer a hot meal, but a space for support group meetings, job training, and socializing for veterans and members of the community. Our veterans deserve that.” Martha concludes, looking lovingly up at Zach.

The voiceover continues:

Zach and Martha have raised the money for their project from local business partners committed to their vision. All that’s left is to get the space ready for the grand opening in just a few days.

On screen, Joel meets with Zach and Martha in the empty space and discusses with them how they want it to look and presents his plan. It was such a great week of filming. The whole crew got involved in painting walls and building tables. It was a real group effort, and you know everyone felt proud to be able to help out.

The show ends with a grand opening block party and interviews with some of the area veterans about what this project means to them, finishing with Zach and Martha expressing their heartfelt thanks to everyone involved. You notice Frank wipe away a tear as the episode comes to a close.

“That was really good, Dad.” Sarah turns off the TV and smiles at Joel.

“Thanks, babygirl. I really liked those two,” Joel says, hugging her into his side.

“Did you have a favorite project this season, Joel?” Frank asks.

“You know I like all of ‘em. What did y’all like best?” Joel predictably turns the question around.

“I liked the patio. They seemed like such a sweet couple, and you know I love to entertain,” says Frank, eyes twinkling. Hardly a week goes by when you aren’t invited to join Frank on his patio for some occasion that usually ends with you and Frank gossiping over glasses of wine while Joel and Bill discuss the relative merits of roofing materials.

“I liked when you taught that father and daughter how to fix plumbing,” Bill interjects seriously. “Calling a plumber is a waste of money. I dug my own well. You can’t trust water from the government.”

“Bill, I want you on my side if there is ever a zombie apocalypse. I bet you’d do just fine,” you tease.

“You have no idea,” whispers Frank conspiratorially.

“I liked the treehouse… it made me remember being little,” Sarah sighs wistfully.

“That one was a lot of fun. I thought about what you would have wanted.” Joel presses a kiss into her hair, and she snuggles deeper into his side.

“It’s difficult for me, but I guess I would have to go with the floor episode,” you muse.

“Really?” Frank asks, surprised. “Everyone seemed so uncomfortable in that one. I wondered what was going on off camera.”

“Oh, it was a mess,” you laugh, “but I have my reasons.” You wink and squeeze Joel’s knee. Next to you, Joel blushes to the tips of his ears.

“Oh no… did you?... wait... I don’t want to know,” Sarah groans, and everyone laughs.

“What was your favorite, Joel?” you ask, shifting to drape your arm across his broad shoulders and card your fingers through his hair.

“You know I can’t pick, but I do have a favorite part of the season,” he responds earnestly.

“Oh?”

“My favorite part was you, sunshine.” Joel looks up at you with his brown, puppy dog eyes full of love.

“Aww!” exclaims Frank at the same time as Sarah groans and flops dramatically sideways on the couch.

You laugh as you press a kiss into Joel’s scruff and whisper in his ear, “That is such a cop-out, but I’ll allow it.”

Conversation turns to other topics and, eventually, Sarah drifts up to her room and Frank and Bill back to their house across the street. You and Joel find your way out back to the patio to watch the sunset. You take your place between Joel’s legs on a lounge chair, leaning against his broad chest.

It has become a habit to come out here to watch the sunset together at the end of the day. The two of you sitting in comfortable silence, Joel stroking your arms absently while you listen to the slow, steady beat of his heart. You love how safe and comfortable you feel with him. You can let your guard down and just be.

“I meant what I said, you know,” he rumbles in your ear, breaking the silence. You twist to face him, resting your cheek on his chest and looking up at his striking profile. The golden sun highlights his arced nose and gorgeous cheekbones. The man you love is very handsome.

“I know you did,” you reply.

“I love you,” Joel whispers, bending down to press a kiss to your lips.

“I love you, too,” you reply, emotion clogging your voice as you think back on the past year and all the years that led you to this place.

A year ago, your divorce wasn’t even final, but your marriage had fizzled out long before. You envisioned years of bad dates ahead of you before you found someone you wanted to share your life with – if you even did. You were ok with the idea of being single. You were comfortable with yourself and didn’t need a relationship to feel fulfilled.

Then one day, a kind, beautiful, brown-eyed man said he was seeing things differently.

It goes to show – you just never know what’s going to happen.

The End.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A/N: This episode’s cameo comes from Brothers and Sisters via @yespolkadotkitty‘s You Found Me/Say You’ll Stay

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Taglist – in reblog

#construction corner #joel miller #joel miller x reader #joel miller au #Pedro Pascal #pedro pascal character fanfiction

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xariarte · 2 months

Note

Who are some of the married couples who you think need fic 👀

Well anon, this might be a long list, so buckle up. 😭😭

Couples That Have Zero Fics (and my explanations on why they should):

Milwaukee Bucks - Khris Middleton/Giannis Antetokounmpo

Steph and Klay have played together for thirteen years, and behind them, Khris and Giannis have played together for eleven years. Their partnership is wonderful, so tender and soft. You just have to look at their photos together to see that. Giannis said that once Khris retires, it will be so sad for him, since he has never played a single game without him.

Brooklyn Nets - Cam Johnson/Mikal Bridges

They sparked a friendship in 2019, were on the Phoenix Suns together for four years, then they were traded ~together~ for KD onto the Nets. They do everything together, to the point where they've been called twins. They were even together playing at the FIBAWC last summer on Team USA!

Dallas Mavericks - Dwight Powell/Maxi Kleber

I don't know if you have ever gone into Mavs Tumblr, but Dwight and Maxi have so many intricate rituals together that I am surprised that nobody has ever written fic about them. They've both played together for seven years. There's lots of evidence that they both hang out off-court together, and a video of them playing golf together too!

New York Knicks - Jalen Brunson/Josh Hart

Are these two married...? I mean, they have old married couple vibes so I'm just going to sneak them in here anyway. If you've paid attention to the nba tumblr community rumbles, then you've seen them. I even made a text post meme on them. They were college roommates, then became friends, now they're on the same team, and they have a podcast together.

Oklahoma City Thunder - SGA/Dort and J-Dub/J-Will

They are new, so I understand why there's nothing. But, SGA and Lu Dort are both Canadian and they are open about their bromance. They have known each other since high school and were roommates together. They also play for the national team. Meanwhile, J-Dub and J-Will were drafted together, plus they have similar names and have a budding twin-like friendship.

Couples That Aren't Married But Are A Pair:

Luka Dončić and Devin Booker

Even though they don't have much history together irl, this gifset of them and also the text post meme I made (which...btw, is my most popular one so far) single-handedly proves that they need way more than one single fic written about them.

Couples That Have Fic But I'd Like More:

Boston Celtics - Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown

Denver Nuggets - Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray

Chicago Bulls - Coby White and Patrick Williams

Houston Rockets - Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. (I am very biased about this one, I'm afraid)

#this is a dangerous list for me to have #because as someone who writes very often #i would write fic for all the ones that don't have fic #but...i am the wrong writer because there would be no smut #and some of them really need smut lol #if someone wants to write badly written fic on any of these ships i'd read it #thanks anon!#i hope this satisfies your curiosity :)#ask #p.s. yes all of these ships are eventually getting a text post meme but it WILL take a while sorry about that 😭😭😭

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justinspoliticalcorner · 19 days

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Jasper Scherer at Texas Tribune:

State Rep. Shawn Thierry was defeated Tuesday by primary challenger Lauren Ashley Simmons, denying the Houston Democrat a fifth term after she sided with Republicans last year on a handful of bills opposed by the LGBTQ+ community.

Simmons declared victory with a double-digit lead over Thierry. The contest was decided by Tuesday’s runoff after Simmons narrowly missed defeating Thierry outright in the March primary. "We did it, y'all," Simmons said in a speech at her election night watch party, where she declared victory and told supporters she "wanted to be a clear example of what you can do when you have the power of the people behind you." Thierry, a 54-year-old Houston attorney, had been in her own party’s crosshairs since last spring, when she voted for a measure barring gender-transitioning care for minors, and then delivered an emotional speech from the House floor explaining why she broke with her party. Thierry’s vote, and her viral remarks, prompted a spirited and well-funded challenge from Simmons, a 36-year-old labor organizer. A number of prominent Houston Democrats lined up behind Simmons, including some of Thierry’s current and former colleagues in the Texas House — an unusually public show of repudiation from an incumbent’s own party. Thierry countered with her own slate of endorsements from Black church leaders and six of her Democratic colleagues.

Crockett said she decided to weigh in on the race after the Houston Chronicle editorial board quoted Thierry appearing to dismiss Simmons’ Texas House supporters as “the gay ones.” Thierry also broke ranks from her party to support a GOP bill aimed at removing sexually explicit books from school libraries, a designation critics feared would be used to target LGBTQ+ literature. She also voted for a bill requiring transgender college athletes to play on teams that align with their sex assigned at birth. Fanning the flames further, Thierry was quoted by the Houston Chronicle editorial board earlier this year appearing to dismiss Simmons’ Texas House supporters as “the gay ones.” Thierry said the quote was “taken completely out of context from a larger discussion,” but in any case, Simmons’ campaign told the Chronicle that they received a major surge in fundraising after Thierry’s remarks were published.

Anti-LGBTQ+ sellout “Democrat” Shawn Thierry lost to LGBTQ+ challenger Lauren Ashley Simmons in the TX-HD146 Democratic Primary runoff. #TXPrimary #TXLege

#Lauren Ashley Simmons #Shawn Thierry #Texas #2024 Texas Elections #2024 Elections #Texas House of Representatives #Texas Politics #LGBTQ+#Book Banning #Transgender Sports

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jewish-vents · 4 months

Note

I moved away from KC earlier this year to a place that doesn’t have any sort of Jewish community at all, and after the move I lost nearly all my old college friends because they defended the atrocities committed on October 7th. I’m in this awful place of feeling completely isolated from the people in my hometown and worrying if my old friends, who were almost definitely present at today’s crime scene, are even still alive — and also wondering if the gunman’s motives are related to the i/p conflict, like in Houston last week. I know it’s unlikely, but I can’t stop thinking about how much this war will take from me, and from all of us. I’m not the same person I was on October 6th; I’m worse, and I want so desperately to be happy and good again. I’m afraid that I can’t be both, and sick to death of being neither.

עם ישראל חי

(original date: Feb. 15th)

#jewish vents #jumblr #antisemitism #current events #am yisrael chai #עם ישראל חי #october 7

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davidshawnsown · 18 days

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SAVANNAH BANANAS UKRAINE ONE-SHOT 1: Danny "Do It All" Hosley, the all-around infantryman

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(AN: As the Savannah Bananas began their 2024 season as a pro barnstorming team - 3rd overall in this configuration, 2nd full time and the 8th of their history, it came at the heels of a massive roster overhaul in the offseason, and the fact that for the first time the organization will be hosting events at 6 MLB stadiums with a 3rd joining the two already active franchises of the wider organization come May. They have filled Minute Maid Park in Houston to huge reception and come this April, their presence has had expanded with the first games broadcast on Bally Sports platforms. To honor these boys in yellow who have won the hearts of a nation and people around the world, in salute to the forthcoming launch of the Firefighters team and to ensure also that the fans of this stellar team also know as well the need to help Ukraine be supported in its time of need - given that there are Ukrainian American communities that call the Hostess City home - the series I began in Discord of one shots featruing the Bananas and their players is now also present here on Tumblr - for the sake of the fanfic writers and other writers here. These stories, set in the Ukrainian frontlines, will give the readers the idea of how important the defense of Ukraine is to the overall well being of the world. As a footnote, the recent incident involving members of the Russian press will be included.)

TW: violence, language, war scenes

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SOMEWHERE AT THE SVATOVE-KREMMINA FRONTLINE

WESTERN EASTER WEEK, APRIL 2024

The smoke of exploded vehicles have time and again punctuated Ukraine's north east since the 716th Savannah Infantry Regiment's 1st and 2nd Battalions arrived in the fall of 2023 to help reinforce this vital part of the frontline.

Carrying not just vital aid to the frontline soldiers and also medical and ordnance supplies but also even additional reinforcements from their home city in the form of an artillery battalion and an infantry battalion based there as well as volunteers for the repairs of crucial arms and vehicular equipment, they have helped in the defense of the frontline from repeated Russian attacks from either the regular armed forces but also from the militias from both Russia itself and its autonomous republics in the Donbass.

Among those who have had helped was a young man from Vienna, Virginia and had been trained as an EMT in college - newly promoted sergeant Danny Hosley of 1st platoon, A Company of the 1st Battalion, who has been their all around soldier cum infantryman since he accepted the offer of joining the regiment in December 2022. His medical training has also made him the platoon's medical first responder for not just his men but also for the Ukrainians fighting with him in the front, in which the regimental medical unit has been grateful for the quick response that saved a lot of lives in the field. Thus he has been called as "Danny Do It All" by all those in A Company since he arrived at the front - also because alongside his rifle and EMT proficiency, he has been an expert in the machine gun, grenade launcher and ATGMs, as well as MANPADs. He's already set to be platoon sergeant with 1st Platoon in the future, already a backup to SFC Malachi Mitchell, already company first sergeant for A Company. And his actions have earned the praise not only only his company commander, 1LT Bill LeRoy, but also his battalion CO Tyler Gillum and XO Adam Virant.

These actions have earned him a Defense of Ukraine Medal and other medals and decorations by the Ukrainian and US governments, as well as recognition by the people of his hometown.

Over the past months since his deployment, his efforts have resulted in the death of many Russians and those from Cuba, Nepal and African countries, as well as the destruction of tens of Russian and allied military vehicles as well as UAVs and helicopters. No wonder these kills are openly brandished but only in the Strykers the 1st Battalion 716th has had accompained in their Ukrainian campaign.

Last February, he was with 1LT Dan Oberst as he risked his life saving SGT Taj Porter from certain death. Over the past few months whenever elements of A Company of the 1st Battalion were in certain life threatening situations, Hosley was the one who was with them looking at their safety and well being all the way, including a young lieutenant from Oklahoma, 1LT Jocelyn Alo, a graduate of the local ROTC unit, who joined the company last year.

Once more his will and ability would be tested.

1340h EEDT

Reports of yet another Russian column have unnerved the 1st Battalion command in their OP in the frontline. Yesterday it's the 169th Assault Infantry Brigade that was threatening the lines to the north - a new Russian raising that is part of the 25th Army and is the first of many that had been raised as part of an ongoing revival of the Russian Shock Corps - the rapid response infantry units that have gained notoreity and fame during the Second World War as part of the vanguard echeleon of ground forces formations. The brigade is armed with BTR-70s and the T-62 Chollma. This time it's the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division (Motorized Rifles) of the 20th Army that is threatening the frontline alongside 2 BARS battalions and a battalion of LPR militia from the 4th Mechanized Infantry Brigade II Guards Corps - represented by battalions of the 237th Armored Regiment with its T-54/55s and T-62s, as well as BMP-2s and older BMP-1s. Of the foreign equipment, they use the WZ-551 Type 90 and the Shin'heung light tank, as well as BTR-80 Chunma, a North Korean unlicensed version of the vehicle, while there has been at least a battery of the Chinese made PCL-99 towed field gun in the artillery battalion. The BARS battalions are armed partly with Dongfeng Mengshi MRAPs and the UAZ-66.

This time the call was from elements of the 1st Presidential Infantry Brigade "Storm" of the National Guard, as well as from the 66th Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the UGF, reporting that elements of the 3rd Mechanized were planning a renewed company level operation given the situation in the US regarding continued aid to the AFU and its wartime auxillaries. Ever the mobile commitment to the defense of the northeast, the 1st and 2nd battalions of the 716th moved north while the two affilated battalions remained as they were. Since December 1st Platoon had been carrying 1LT Joe Lytle with it as he, 1LT Dakota McFadden and two others have been gearing up for the expansion of the company to five rifle platoons with McFadden slated to take charge of the 3rd as its current commander will have his platoon reflagged to the 4th as part of this. As of this week he called up SGT Jacob Teston from 1st platoon to be a future part of his team as well as SGT Emmanuel Rosario from 2nd platoon.

That earlier morning the 1st and 2nd Battalions took up positions in Nevske, Krasnorichenske Township in Svatove District, wherein they would assist the 66th Mechanized and the 106th Territorial Defense Brigade to the north of their positions, as well as a battalion of the 4th Armored Brigade to the west of them. Their mission was to patrol the area and halt possible Russian and DPR/LPR advances on the front. Well-armed and well equipped they would face the brunt of any Russian advance on their sector as well as of their allies while helping their Ukrainian brothers everywhere on the front as Russia is moving even more into their lines in the south while trying in the north to capture Chasiv Yar city in Kharkiv Oblast. They would man the positions each of the village.

As usual, CPTs Dalton Mauldin, Andy Archer and Reese Alexiades as well as SGT Brandon Crosby and 1LT Christian Dearman of 1st Platoon, newly promoted sergeant Tanner Thomas, SGTs Garrett DeClue and Dustin Baber and CPLs Garret Delano and Riyan Rodriguez of 2nd platoon had their GoPros ready to share the stories of their struggles to the American people attached to their helmets. Hosley himself had filmed some footage for the regimental social media outlets and his personals. The two platoons are more known for their TikTok viral antics and video footage over the past few years.

"Dalt!"

"So you're filming today Hoz?" Mauldin asked.

"Negative corporal."

"Got that sir. Already doing as usual, I want to let Nashville know that Ukraine badly needs the help in the form of weapons to defend its lands against Russia."

"Have you sent the petitions to your federal Congress members, Dalt?"

"Affirmative sir."

"I'm sure the rest of everyone here has been doing their job. And Breland?"

"Already in the Czech Republic now but still active helping the Ukrainian cause."

"Same for me here," added Archer, who has been for the past months since arriving in Ukraine the platoon's main marksman and sniper.

"You sure those French will keep their promises to be in Ukraine?"

"They will one day, Danny."

As the men of 1st and 2nd Battalions 716th Savannah stayed on their combat positions, they keep watch, aware that Russia - and the Donbass militias under its command would any time attack them and move towards the by now undersupplied Ukrainian lines, their plight having been shared to Americans as part of their efforts to help in the ongoing discussion on vital weapons aid to the country in Congress.

Then...

"ENEMY SPOTTED" was the call of 1LT Alou having relayed the call of the 1st Battalion's Ukrainian liason officer. He had informed her that it is surely the 237th.

"Here they come," added 1LT Bill LeRoy. "Open fire when ready Able. I know Gillum will give the fire order when he's ready."

Elements of the Russian 237th had been advancing as company level vanguard echelons attempting a breakthrough of the Ukrainian lines - exactly why the 716th had to move across to plug any holes in the defense whenever there would be an oncoming threat on the lines. This is before any main element of the regiment would arrive alongside the BARS reserves. Recon elements as usual were escorting the advance party and the vanguard detachments with vehicle-mounted infantry on the T-54/55s and the BTR-80 Chunma-D.

Ever the combat ready rifleman cum heavy weapons specialist, Hosley, having dropped his M4, began to load up his Javellin MPATS alongside SGT Michael Deeb on his NLAW, awaiting the order from his superiors and higher ups while elements of regimental command was in their original positions alongside parts of the battalion's servicemen while COL Eric Byrnes was with the rest on the field.

"Colonel, Tyler here from 1st Battalion. Russians about to begin intrusion operations. The Ukrainian liason with us told us its the 234th Armored Regiment of the Russian 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division coming at our lines," Tyler called his commanding officer on his walkie talkie.

"Noted LTC. On my orders, open fire when you think you're ready."

"Affirmative sir."

"Has Jesse called up from Savannah now that he's back there with Emily and the kids?"

"Yes. Our colonel in chief, Jesse Cole, has been informed via telephone on this. It's time we start the clock, he said. We need to fight them now that they are getting closer to our lines."

"Got that Brynes, Gillum out. Boom."

"Byrnes out."

"Calling A Company command," Tyler then called Bill. "Be ready to open fire when these Russians are on your sights."

"We're damn ready, sir."

Tyler called on the rest of the battalion and the cannon company to be ready for the upcoming onslaught by these Russians - as usual in a mix of old and new combat gear and armaments.

"In a few moments fire when ready boys," LTC Adam Virant called to the boys thru his walkie talkie. "These Russians will taste the fire of our guns."

Back in the line, Hosley had already loaded up his Javellin and began to aim at the lead T-55 leading the Russian advance party as it slowly moved towards the positions the two battalions of the 716th Savannah were.

"You ready?" CPL Deaundre "DJ" Roberts - soon slated to be promoted to Sergeant - asked him.

Hosley replied to him, "I'm just ready to do what it takes Corporal Roberts. We're doing what we can do for Ukraine at this point."

"Got that sarge."

"I'm ready too," added CPL Brandon Crosby.

"Same, sarge," added SGT Gabe Howell.

Immediately the fire order was issued from Byrnes, leading Gillum - on the part of 1st Battalion - to give the signal to fire upon the force.

"SHOWTIME! Open fire boys!"

"Order recieved," Bill replied. "A Company, light them up, fire!"

"Roger that Bill, let's do this, Slava Ukraini," his XO, 1LT Kyle Luigs, responded. "Heroyam Slava!" was everyone's usual response.

And the firefight began. Before any Russian would disembark from their vehicle, the bullets began to hit, killing anyone riding on the top of armored vehicles as tank desants in keeping with the old Russian tradition dating from the Second World War. And as always, Hosley's Javellin had hit the lead tank of the convoy.

"Tank has been hit, boys."

"Well done Danny!" replied CPL Ethan Skuija.

And the explosions kept coming. Grenade launchers and MPATS firing on the advance party, as well as the work of the field cannoniers of the gun company, practically disabled most of the force, with a few on the retreat as most of them were killed or wounded by American gunfire, soon joined by elements of an armored company from the 4th Armored Brigade armed with T-72s.

And Archer had shot some of the men at a distance, ever the able sniper he is.

Cries of "Surrender!" would ring out later, but most of the surviving lads were defiant, ready to die for Russia rather than giving up their arms. And they were met by rifle fire from the Americans, bleeding to their deaths.

"GET DOWN" echoed from no less than 1LT Josh Reddick. A grenade launcher had been fired on A Company's positions, but no one was hurt, the Russian carrying it would later run away from the battleground back to his battalion group.

"You okay DJ?" Danny asked.

"Yes sir, I'm alright."

"Same here Sarge, damn that grenade launcher man almost got us killed," added CPL Christian Vazquez from 2nd Platoon. This would be seconded by 1LT Sammy Claycamp, Major Mike Vavasis' assistant and the delegate for the 2nd Platoon as well as advisor to its commanding staff.

"You fine, Jonesy?" He radioed SGT Eric Jones Jr.

"Yes, I'm fine sarge, and so too is Lieutenant LeRoy."

"I'm sure Kyle and the other officers are alright."

"That's an afffirmative, thank God none of them were shot."

Soon enough the damage would be seen: 2 T-62 Chollma-2s, 6 BTR-80 Chunma-Ds, 2 BMP-1s and 2 WZ-551 Type 90s, plus a squad of UAZ-66 and GAZ Tigers. Majority of the advance party got killed in the operation, and not one of 1st and 2nd Battalions' personnel were killed for now or even wounded. Only a few gave up their AK-12 and AK-74s in the presence of the Americans, and thus would be handed over to the Ukrainian liason team of 1st Battalion 716th to be interrogated.

"There's more where that's coming from," Hosley said.

"That's right Hoz," 1LT Ryan Cox replied, stating that there would be a bigger column coming from that regiment as well as expected BARS battalions backing them up , in addition to another battalion this time from yet another from the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division: the 252nd Mechanized Infantry Regiment, as well as attached field artillery elements using SPGs and MLRS, coming at the rear. This is the reason why the UGF's 66th Mech Inf Brigade deployed some field artillery batteries from its field artillery regiment to back them up as well as the cannon companies of the 1st and 2nd Battalions - the latter a new raising to complement that of the former's and armed similarly. Their late arrival helped a lot in the destruction of the Russian advance party.

Radioing him, no less than 1st platoon CO 1LT Jackson Olson asked of him: "You destroyed some of these Russian and foreign tanks again Hoz?"

"Just doing my job as always."

"You better get that Javellin refilled time after time. There's more coming up, sarge."

"Yes lieutenant." After this he loaded up that Javellin again with the help of some members of the company.

"You've done well sarge," added sergeant Jones Jr. from 1st squad. "You still destroying these Russian vehicles?"

"Affirmative. I'm sure that our ammo's enough for these and we're still helping the nearly ammo-starved Ukrainians."

"You've become more determined these past weeks," said CPL Noah Bridges.

"I have been, corporal, not just to serve and defend, but to save more lives."

And indeed more came of these Russian vehicles and those imported to the country to serve their needs. But the artillery and armor of the Ukrainian units that reinforced their lines had helped them defeat the intruders time and again. The kill count and destroyed vehicles kept growing, as despite the cries of the charging Russians the Americans - with a little help from those in Ukraine who know the territory more - continued to maul those Russians of the vanguard column and those of the main force - as per the traditional assault strategy that had been adapted many times during the ongoing invasion - as company rather than battalion level assault parties for the former rather that of the latter ad-hoc formation. Even Russian and Chinese UAV's of the regiment's unmanned systems company were no match for electronic warfare and defensive efforts by Americans and Ukranians.

"Oh S__t. Damn grenade again!" Hosley shouted to his squadmates.

This time it missed them.

Afterwards, as the bomb went off, he was lying on the ground with 1LT Dan Oberst whom he helped save lives recently.

"That was close, Dan."

"Sarge, it almost got us killed," he replied as both stood up.

"Hey Stilits," then radioing SGT Dakota Albritton, "has the Strykers fired their targets and are being resupplied?"

"Yes Danny, and thank heavens none of them have been hit so far."

And the remmants of the attack would later pull back, at a high cost to their failed operation.

As the firefight continued on, no less than CPL Connor Higgins - who had been with 1st Platoon last year and got transferred to the 2nd on the urging of Major Vavasis - had radioed the sergeant - as he was informed of that by CPL Zack "Philly" Philips, who had also been with said unit and joined the same time as Higgins in 2023. After their training in Savannah and Kovel, they were deployed joining with the rest of A Company that summer.

"Big Butter here, Sarge we got an injury here on 2nd Platoon."

"Who's that corporal?"

"SSGT Jason Swan. Their platoon sergeant. Was a part of your platoon in 2022."

"Squad assignment?"

"1st."

"Is that combat related?"

"Affirmative Hosley. I am calling a medic here, please be there."

"Got ya Butter. Danny Do-It-All out."

"Big Butter out, good luck."

Hosley then informed 1LT Cox, "Know this guy?"

"Affirmative Hoz, served with him early in 2022."

"Got that, gonna be saving him before a medic arrives, Coxy."

"Hosley," said SSGT Mitchell, "be safe out there, make sure Swan is out of the line and being treated."

"Got it sarge."

Dropping his Javellin and getting his first aid kit ready and prepared, he rushed to 2nd platoon's lines at once with his M4 on his hands notwitstanding enemy gunfire and cannon fire from tanks and armored vehicles. But before that, he gave that Javellin to CPL David Ray "DR" Meadows from 3rd Squad, fully loaded up and with instructions to clearly fire at any Russian vehicle approaching their defenses.

"Glad you arrived in time," said 1LT Sammy Claycamp as he arrived at where 2nd platoon's being stationed in the field. "Higgins had called ya regarding Staff Sergeant Swan's injuries, these were on the hamstring on his legs due to a grenade sharpnel wound sustained thanks to these Russians who have been advancing towards 1st Battalion."

"Thanks Sam. Able to help him if I can, I must do."

"HOSLEY!" Higgins shouted at him as he approached the wounded but screaming staff sergeant. "Glad you made it."

"Doing my best as usual. Where's 1st squad commander?"

"That's SGT Achuff, I am asking him now to provide covering fire."

"Noted sarge."

"So what happened?"

"1LT Cornett informed me that Swanny got hit by grenade sharpnel to his hammy while firing on the advancing Russians because they threw a damn grenade on our lines.. He's been screaming in pain ever since and I'm glad sergeants Bloomer and Baber have been helping him."

"Got that Big Butter, I want covering fire now."

"Consider this done, sarge, I am calling Chase for this."

The order already given, Sergeant Hosley began to treat the staff sergeant with first aid, removing the sharpnel and ensuring that the torniquet and bandages applied as quickly to stop the bleeding caused by the sharpnel to his hamstring as the medical team arrived to assist.

"F_ck, what happened Swan?"

"Those Russians, they launched a grenade on our lines and I was thrown into the ground from having to stand up with Baber and the rest of the boys, with shapnel on my hammy."

"Better now?"

"Thanks Sarge. I would be lying bleeding and dead here in this freaking ground if not for you."

"Affirmative staff sergeant. It's time to get you out of the line. Here, take my hand."

"Thanks Danny."

"Is that one of the guys from 1st Platoon?" asked a stunned SGT Tanner Thomas, the 3rd squad commander, after seeing what had just happened.

Corporal Higgins, who served with Hosley last year, said the affirmative. Indeed it was Danny helping out no matter what with the help of the medical contingent assigned to the company.

Swan was helped by Hosley and some members of the A Company medical team as well as CPL Garrett DeClue and SGTs Baber and Bryson Bloomer and 1LT Jake Skole to stand as he was being medevac'd away from the frontline, holding his arm around the sergeant as he was being whisked away towards a Humvee combat ambulance awaiting him. Notwitstanding flying bullets and the loud gunfire and vehicular fire from the 716th's Strykers and the guns of the cannon company of 1st Battalion providing defensive fires support against the swarms of Russians rushing to break the Ukrainian defensive lines, Swan is now being finally pulled out.

Putting him on the strecher on the Humvee ambulance once they all came, he called up his company commanding officer on his radio.

"Lieutenant LeRoy, Danny Do-It-All here. Another wounded of our company finally set to be medevac'd out of the frontline."

"Great job sergeant Hosley. You have proven that you can truly do it all, for our city of Savannah and our nation."

"Thanks sir, gonna be back on the lines if I can Bill."

"You better be Danny, these Russians are throwing the rest of these conscripts and some veterans and reservists into 1st Battalion lines by companies and battalions. But take courage, we will win."

"Affirmative, I hope you inform Tyler. Danny Do-It-All out."

"Cowboy Kyle," he then informed his XO, "Swan being medevac'd as he speak. Another life saved thanks to my efforts."

"Great job sarge, you better get back to the lines ASAP."

"Affirmative lieutenant."

Then he looked on to Swan and to the medical staff as well as SGT Bloomer who chose to accompany him.

"Stay safe my friend, I will be back in the front. Will see you soon, sarge."

"Thanks for saving my life, Danny. I owe my life and that of the company to you, just as you help saved Dan Oberst before."

"Just doin' what I have to do."

"A pleasure to have you here in this company, sarge."

Looking to SGT Bloomer he said, "Bryson, take good care of your squad leader, he will surely be OK once it's over."

"Thanks sergeant Hosley for everything. You have been a hero to all of us here."

"You're welcome Bloomer."

Danny left the ambulance before it wheeled off and returned thru 2nd platoon lines back to his parent unit, having fetched the same guys who helped Jason on his medevac back to the lines.

While on the way, he was greeted by 1LT Dalton Cornett.

"Thanks Danny for saving Swanny's life."

"Was my pleasure to have done my sworn duty to my country and the city of Savannah, for the sake of Ukraine and the free world. Will always be ready to fight and save lives for this call, DC."

"Will always remember this day and others Hosley. Your work and efforts will be the in minds of the 716th for years to come."

"Just one guy doing his job, sir."

Meanwhile LTC Gillum had informed COL Byrnes of Hosley's heroism via radio. It stunned him and LTC Nate King.

"He's done it again?!!"

"He ain't called Danny Do-It-All for nothing Eric. He saved another of our men in the field."

"Indeed he has time and time again, as well as helped Ukrainians who have been wounded."

"There's no doubt about it Byrnsie. His heroic actions have earned our respect and admiration but above all else, his work has indeed minted our nation with pride and honor in the duty he has done in helping our allies abroad."

As this happened, Hosley returned to his platoon and this time got the Stinger from one of the Strykers, awaiting to attack any incoming Russian UAV system. Loading it up, it detected an ongoing UAV already doing recon work of the line for the Russians. This time a Ukrainian rifle company from the 66th Brigade joined them.

Missile goes off, boom. The enemy UAV falls down from the sky, destroyed.

"Another unmanned system down," he radios Bill. As usual, he's greeted by cheers.

And yet another enemy UAV - this time an attack one planning to drop a grenade - gets destroyed too thanks to his efforts.

Just a few - around 5 UAVs - are already out of service by day's end.

His efforts and those of A Company would help 1st and 2nd Battalions 716th to defeat yet another Russian intrusion of the Ukrainian defensive lines in Svatove District that day, as the operation had by now clearly failed, resulting in victory for the Americans and their Ukrainian allies and the withdrawal of the Russian forces from their stated advances towards the defensive lines Ukrainians have been holding since late 2022.

Just tens of Russians out of battalions of regulars and militias would surrender that afternoon as the rest either fled or were killed or wounded by American and Ukrainian gunfire. In around two and a half hours, the 1st and 2nd battalions 716th Savannah repulsed the enemy intrusion into the Ukrainian lines, with losing tens of personel of their units as opposed to the hundreds of Russians and their LPR allies who perished. A Company only had wounded and injuried personnel so far. For the Russians a lot of armored vehicles and tanks as well as a few 2S3 SPGs were destroyed that afternoon adding to the toll as opposed to none for the Americans and three BTR-70s and one T-72 of the Ukrainians destroyed.

"There's more that will come soon from these Russians, lads," told the sergeant, "but take courage. We must win no matter what the cost, for the sake of Ukraine and her people."

"A-f__king right Hoz," replied SGT Jones. "That's the right thing to do now. Especially that there's still a lot to do regarding that aid package by Congress."

"Let's hope that Ukraine get's the aid it has needed desperately."

"That's the one right thing," added CPL Alex Pierce of 2nd squad. Ukraine, he says, needs that military aid more than ever and he agrees that Congress must now pass that aid package.

"The same for me and the rest of us," added SGT Matt Malatesta.

"I'm sure my Congress representatives know," Hosley replied, "that our efforts will help them realize that more than ever before in our history, Ukraine needs to be assisted in this fight."

Later on, after Tyler has reflected on the few deaths from 1st Battalion that day, he turned on LeRoy and his A Company men proud of what they did that day against throngs of advancing armed Russian soldiers and militiamen.

"These past years since I was appointed battalion XO and now as your commanding officer... I have never ever doubted that you guys are still fighting hard these past two years and have made this battalion proud. No single one of you guys have been killed - just injuries temporarily limiting your numbers, but the strength has still remained after so long in Ukraine. Well done boys. I'm sure Jessie and Eric are damn proud of what you all displayed today. But not only them and the people of Savannah, and all Americans, are proud of what you all did. It's has been always the Ukrainian people, who have been time and again grateful for the assistance you all did no matter what in the defense of their homeland. Bill, you and Kyle and the men of A Company have once more shown their worth in defending our nation and its interests abroad. As you guys have time and again have written to your local representatives and senators of Congress regarding the funding needed for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters for access to arms, ammunitions and weapons systems needed to defend that nation against the Russian invasion, I have my confidence that funding will soon be passed. And your efforts here in Ukraine have shown them that we must not let down our overseas allies and must be standing stand by stand with them. Once more, mission accomplished boys. Don't give up yet, we have to defend our Ukrainian brothers time and again till the end."

"Thanks Colonel Gillum," Bill replied. "And one more thing, sir, Danny-Do-It-All has done it again, saving one of our guys from 2nd Platoon from certain death."

"Sergeant Hosley," the LTC replied, "we've been ever proud of you once more. You've proven do be the all around man your company has needed in times of extreme necessity in the battlefield."

"My pleasure Tyler."

Turning to CPL Andy Archer, he said, "Thanks for covering our arses."

"Just doing what we swore to do, " he replied.

"And Hoz," added SGT Tanner Thomas, "thanks for saving one of our guys out there. You surely have risked everything for these medevacs these past few weeks, right?"

He replied, "That's the job I prepared for when I was in the USA training to be an paramedic. And I'm ready to save more lives soon. T'was a pleasure to have done just that today."

A FEW DAYS LATER....

News came to 1st Battalion CP that an operation they did in coordination with the 1st and 12th National Guard Infantry Brigades in cooperation with the 108th Territorial Brigade TDFU had resulted in the defeat of a battalion from the Tajikstan-based 201st Military Base and company sized elements coming from the 7th (LPR) Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the II Guards Army Corps. But there's more to that.

A Russian military correspondent working for Star TV, the official TV station of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, named MAJ Evgeniy Polovodov, who over the past two years contributed to Russia-1 and Channel One news broadcasts and current affairs programming of the invasion of Ukraine by the Armed Forces of Russia, had been KIA by an Ukrainian UAV attack on him and his camera crews alongside their military escorts in the Serebransky Forest area - exactly within the wide area of operations the 716th Savannah had been stationed and been covering in support of the Ukrainian forces since last year. Thankfully his cameraman survived.

A Company's 1st Platoon had been discussing the newly released footage from Russia-1's Vesti newscast regarding said Ukrainian UAV attack from a day before.

"Do you think," CPL Alex Ziegler, who had been just been newly promoted to the rank after two years in the ranks of A Company and fighting alongside fellow Americans and Ukrainians in Ukraine against the Russians as a part of 1st Platoon, asked Hosley, "that our UAV section led by the valiant SGT Reese who also handles our video footage for Public Affairs and the military and civilian personnel working together made that attack possible?"

"Don't know yet," Hosley replied, but he stated that there mighty be a possibly they have done the impossible job - what no one expected would happen to a Russian military press crew and that if proven true these men and women would be rewarded for a job well done.

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